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Court orders Mount Vernon to make special education changes

Changes are coming to Mount Vernon's special education department following a settlement between the district and some students.

Attorneys representing eight students finally got to celebrate a victory over five years after the suit was filed for violations in special education.

Attorney Marcie Kobak says she received several complaints about the district before filing suit.

"The state does report cards of districts, and it would be fair to say that Mount Vernon was failing on those report cards related to their performance in special education," says Kobak.

As part of the settlement, the district must pay for a $250-per-hour monitor and meet other specific requirements to improve the program.

Mount Vernon superintendent Kenneth Hamilton said in a statement that the district "has been actively engaged in a collaborative process with attorneys and is currently executing standards to meet the settlement."

The lawsuit was also against the New York Department of Education. Attorneys for the families say they are still having ongoing discussion with the state about how it could best help the city's school district.